Nature’s Gifts:
Health and Wellbeing
Sometimes a tree tells you more than can be read in books.
-C. G. Jung
Nature reveals a tree heart at Charlson Meadows.
In a world dominated by technology and indoor living, we can easily forget that nature gifts us individually and collectively with greater health and wellbeing. For example, do you know that spending time in nature:
Reduces depression, anxiety, and stress?
Strengthens self-esteem?
Enhances creativity?
This is true for individuals spending time in nature alone, with teammates, or people they have recently met. Nature serves all of us.
The environmental movement has introduced us to the importance of healing nature. But, rarely is the reverse explored–nature’s ability to heal and renew human beings, or what we refer to as nature healing.
As time in nature continues to disappear with the rise of technology and the expansion of cities and suburbs, fewer people experience nature healing or dismiss this power as unsupported beliefs or superstitions.
Today we are fortunate. Research results, both evidence-based and subjective research, affirm nature’s power to heal and to help us as individuals, societies, and a global community of life.
To tap nature’s healing power visit: The Healing Tree
Charlson Meadows offers the adapted *Healing Tree to help you:
- Deepen your relationship with nature.
- Explore real life stories and research results.
- Strengthen concentration skills in your self, children, and others.
- Foster creativity and awaken purpose.
- Know about society’s efforts to heal and help its members.
- Restore your spirit’s joy and awe.
- Support a positive relationship between people and the Earth.
* The Healing Tree learning module was developed by the UMN Center for Spirituality & Healing and Charlson Meadows partnership for the Whole Systems Healing program. For original, visit : Eco-Healing
Those who contemplate the beauty of the earth find reserves of strength that will endure as long as life lasts. Rachael Carson
Healing Tree – Introduction
The Healing Tree is a learning experience about nature’s positive role in health and wellbeing. It is based on three Greek concepts of love—eros, love of life; philia, love found in close relationships; and agape, transcendent, nourishing love on all levels.
Eros, symbolized by the roots, explores nature’s role in ALIVENESS
Philia, symbolized by the trunk, underscores our BELONGING
Agape, symbolized by the branches & leaves, examines NOURISHMENT.
Nature is so powerful that even a short adventure with The Healing Tree can renew, restore, surprise, and inspire. Wander around.
Each section has real stories, easy things you and your children can do, fascinating research, and resources for further exploration. Enjoy Nature’s Gifts of enhanced health and wellbeing (Please see sidebar to explore Healing Tree. More info below.)
As in real life, The Healing Tree is a complex system with interacting and overlapping parts.
For example, nature nourishes our individual physical, mental, and spiritual health through things such as green exercise, reduction of stress, and restoration of values. Being complex, nature also has a positive influence on our collective physical, mental, and spiritual health at the societal and global level. We recognize this with park systems, environmental movements, care farming, and efforts on behalf of our global ecosystem among other things.
Roots – Aliveness
Definition
Do you have a favorite place or places on Earth where you feel more alive? Do you ever feel that you come ‘home to yourself’ when you are in nature? This is one side of the human-nature interaction: nature helps human beings heal and restores aliveness.
Nature healing research reveals that spending time in nature enhances our aliveness, whether we are in our favorite spot or not. Nature awakens eros, the first of the Greek terms for love, meaning our sensual self. Have you ever noticed how all your senses are stimulated when you spend time in nature? Nature is filled with sights, sounds, smells, touches, and even tastes (Burns, 1998).
Nature’s presence is associated with greater feelings of vitality, but being outdoors engaged in social activities or exercise is not predictive of vitality without nature’s involvement (Ryan, et al., 2010)
Nature reaches into the roots of our being and reminds us that we, too, are a part of nature, as nature is a part of us. We are meant to be fully and completely alive.
On the other side of the human-nature interaction, humans want to heal nature and the Earth. The environmental philosopher Glenn Albrecht calls this soliphilia, by which he means our love and responsibility for a place, bioregion, or planet and the unity of interrelated interests within it (TEDxTalks, 2010).
Stories
Post-surgery and during chemotherapy, Sue grew more and more depressed and despondent. The side effects from her treatment felt overwhelming at times, and the fears about her health kept her up at night. One day, while walking near her home, Sue felt overcome with exhaustion and sat down in a park. She closed her eyes and felt a gentle breeze on her face. She was surprised to notice that her skin, which had been highly sensitive during chemo treatments, did not sting in the wind. For the first time in weeks, she felt at peace.
Sue noticed a piece of crumpled trash near her feet, and without thinking, she picked it up and carried it to a nearby trashcan. In that moment, she recognized a deep desire to return both herself and the planet to a state of balance and health.
She made a vow that, if she recovered, she’d devote herself to healing the Earth. Now in remission after a successful treatment, Sue is conducting eco-tourism in New Zealand, holds a backyard Wildlife Habitat certification and was the Washington, DC coordinator of the interfaith Prayer Vigil for the Earth held on the Mall for twenty years.
Practice
Awaken Your Aliveness
Upon entering wilderness…we are bathed in new sounds, awesome sights, interesting textures, different smells and tastes. This awakening of our senses, or perhaps better stated, ‘coming to our senses,’ is a subtly powerful and underrated experience.
Steven Harper, Wilderness Educator
Regardless of where you are at the moment, you can benefit from the healing effects of nature. If you can, go sit in a favorite spot in nature near you. If you can’t do this right now, instead visit a favorite spot using your imagination. Create the image as vividly as you can. Memories have a physical impact on your body and tend to evoke the experience of being there.
Notice your breath. On your exhale, imagine you are breathing out your tension; on your inhale, imagine you are breathing in relaxation and peace. Do this until you are fully relaxed yet alert.
Now heighten your senses. What you see, hear, feel, smell, or even taste in the environment? Extend your senses as far as you can. Experience how alive everything around you is. Invite the surrounding aliveness to quicken your own sense of aliveness. Allow joy and caring between you and nature to arise.
Research
Eco-Therapy: Eco-psychology was introduced in the 1990s by Theodore Roszak when he recognized that people suffered mentally over environmental degradation (Roszak, 1992). While Roszak explored the bond between human beings and nature or the Earth, physician Robert S. Ulrich’s early research indicated that exposure to nature contributes to human health and wellbeing. In his study, people whose hospital windows had a view of nature had shorter stays, required less medication, and received fewer negative comments from nurses (Ulrich, 1984).
These two modern examples suggest that human-nature healing: (1) is a two-way street, (2) is core to who humans are, and (3) contributes to our aliveness. Turning to nature and the Earth for health and wellness is a centuries-old practice with many names, such as sanatorium, wilderness training, national park system, and so on.
The Sensual Awareness Inventory. Australian clinical psychologist George W. Burns created the Sensual Awareness Inventory to enhance people’s awareness of the sensory aliveness they experience in nature. He has worked with hundreds of people using nature as co-therapist, and his book Nature Guided Therapy (1998) contains specific descriptions of how nature contributes to people’s healing, health, and wellbeing.
Resources
Burns, G. (1998). Nature Guided Therapy: Brief Integrative Strategies for Health and Wellbeing. New York: Brunner/Routledge.
Chard, P. (1994). The Healing Earth. Minnetonka, MN: NorthWord Press.
Roszak, T. (1992).The Voice of the Earth: An Exploration of Ecopsychology, Grand Rapids, MI: Phanes Press.
Ryan, R., Weinsteing, N., Bernstein, J., Brown, K., Mistretta, L., Gagne, M. (2010). Vitalizing effects of being outdoors and in nature. Journal of Environmental Psychology; 30(2), 159-168.
TEDxTalks. (2010, June 1). Glenn Albrecht – Environment Change, Distress & Human Emotion Solastalgia. Retrieved January 28, 2013 from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-GUGW8rOpLY.
ThinkingAloudTV. (2010, August 25). Theodore Roszak: Towards an Eco-Psychology (excerpt). Retrieved January 28, 2013 from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=83VHiA2HhkM.
Ulrich, R. S. (1984). View through a window may influence recovery from surgery. Science; 224 (4647), 420–21.
Trunk - Belonging
Definition
We abuse land because we regard it as a commodity belonging to us. When we see land as a community to which we belong, we may begin to use it with love and respect.
Aldo Leopold, (1949). A Sand County Almanac.
For many years, scientists have investigated why people enjoy nature so much. In 1964, psychologist Erich Fromm used the word biophilia to describe the human attraction to all that is alive and vital. The biophilia theory was further developed by Harvard entomologist E. O. Wilson, who defined it as “the connections that human beings subconsciously seek with the rest of life” (Wilson, 1984). (The word biophilia combines bio, meaning life, with the Greek term philia, meaning “a loving family-type relationship.”)
Wilson proposed that our deep connections with nature’s living systems—our sense of belonging—are rooted in our biology and that we have a chemical connection with other life forms and the Earth. Thus, the growing interest in environmental ethics, environmental altruism, and concern for planetary health may arise out of biophilia.
Stories
From a Group to a Family. Our University team came to Charlson Meadows for planning and restoration. The agenda integrated work with time in nature as individuals, small groups, and all together. We hiked the trails, walked the labyrinths, and wandered through the fields and forest. The nature is spectacular. We were a group before we came; we left as a family.
Big as the Universe. Twelve-year old Aika Tsubota told her mother when looking up to the sky, “I feel big like the universe. It’s as though I am one with it.” Sometime later, when her teacher assigned each student a project of his or her own choice, Aika set about creating a comic book, called Secrets of the Earth. It took two months to finish. When children open the book, the Earth pops out shouting, “Hi, there!” and begins to teach all about herself and her environmental problems. Aika’s book has been translated into dozens of languages.(Adapted from Acting for Nature: What Young People Around the World Have Done To Protect the Environment)
Practice
Take a walk where you will encounter some aspect of nature. For example, walk in a nearby park, along city streets with trees, near where flowers grow in small gardens or pots, through the woods, or on a piece of property that you enjoy. Simply walk.
Ask yourself: Does some part of me feel related to nature? If so, what makes me feel related? What part of nature is like me? If not, why am I not related? Note what happens.
Research
Nature and Connectedness. In 2004, Mayer and Frantz published, “The Connectedness to Nature Scale: A Measure of Individuals’ Feeling in Community with Nature,” introducing their scale that (a) measures peoples’ sense of connection with nature, and (b) correlates it with their ecological responsibility. Referring to America’s early nature ethicist, Aldo Leopold, Mayer and Frantz state, “The [five] studies presented here also provide evidence for the coherence of Leopold’s vision that feeling a sense of community, kinship, egalitarianism, embeddedness, and belongingness to nature are all aspects of a broader sense of feeling connected to it. They support Leopold’s contention that connectedness to nature leads to concern for nature. The Connectedness with Nature Scale has also been shown to relate to a biospheric value orientation, ecological behavior, anticonsumerism, perspective taking, and identity as an environmentalist. Lastly, they [the results] suggest that personal wellbeing is linked to a sense of feeling connected to nature” (Mayer & Frantz, 2004)
Enhanced Sense of Connection. In 2010, University of Rochester psychologist Richard Ryan and colleagues from four other institutions conducted research on biophilia with 537 college students. This study confirmed that in addition to aliveness contact with nature also enhanced the college students’ sense of connection and belonging (this study was also discussed in Healing Tree Roots section).
Resources
Action for Nature. (2000). Acting for Nature: What Young People Around the World Have Done To Protect the Environment. San Francisco, CA. Action for Nature, Inc.
Fromm, E. (1964). The Heart of Man. New York: Harper & Row.
Grinde, B., and Patil, G. (2009). Biophilia: does visual contact with nature impact health and well-Being? International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health; 6(9), 2332-2343.
Kellert, S.R., Wilson, E.O., eds. (1995). The Biophilia Hypothesis. Washington, DC: Island Press.
Leopold, A. (1949). A Sand County Almanac. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Mayer, F., McPherson-Frantz, C. (2004). The connectedness to nature scale: a measure of individuals’ feeling in community with nature. Journal of Environmental Psychology; 24(4), 503-515.
Plotkin, B. (2008). Nature and the Human Soul. Navato, CA: New World Library.
Ryan, R., Weinsteing, N., Bernstein, J., Brown, K., Mistretta, L., Gagne, M. (2010). Vitalizing effects of being outdoors and in nature. Journal of Environmental Psychology; 30(2), 159-168.
Sabini, M., ed. (2002). The Earth Has a Soul: C.G. Jung on Nature, Technology & Modern Life. Berkeley, CA: North Atlantic Books.
Wilson, E. O. (1984). Biophilia. Boston: Harvard University Press.
Leaves & Branches – Nourishment
Definition
A tree flourishes because of its leaves and branches; without them, life stops. In our Nature Healing Tree model, the leaves and branches allow people to flourish and reach fulfillment. This can lead to agape—a fulfilling, mutual, and/or transcendent love.
Three Levels
For centuries, people have recognized nature’s role in human flourishing, but until the last century this focused mostly on personal healing.
With the increase of industrialization and the evolution of a global community in the 20th century, people began to seek a multileveled relationship with nature that includes personal (micro), societal (midlevel), and planetary health and wellbeing (macro level).
For example, individuals turn to nature for restorative exercise, society adds healing gardens to hospital settings, and global movements address the interaction of planetary health with human health.
These three levels are represented by the leaves and branches of the Nature Healing Tree.
Three Aspects at Each Level There are also physical, mental/emotional, and spiritual components within each level.
As in a real tree, where nature is integrated and interdependent, so the relationships and definitions between the branch levels and physical, mental, and spiritual aspects are likewise interconnected.
Stories
From Burn Out to Passion. As a team leader of nurses and social workers, I know how often we care for others but do not take time for self-care as individuals or a group. Exhausted and wondering if our work makes any difference in the world, I welcomed the immediate calm that came over me as I drove through Charlson Meadows’ gate. Nature restored me and us. By the time we left, my zest for living was restored, the fun our team shared nourished our community and I felt renewed passion for the work we all do with heart and meaning.
Nature’s healing powers. Selina was diagnosed with late-stage cancer and told she had three months to live. With a hypnotherapist, she began imagining parks from her childhood, lingering over the sensory experience of the trees linking above the brook and the sunlight filtering through the leaves.
Selina began to visit real parks to recapture this feeling of peace and solitude. Her pain diminished drastically. She joined a hiking group, went on a cruise with a friend, and traveled the world. Selina lived for two and a half years after the initial diagnosis, and those years were spent relatively pain and stress-free, thanks to her renewed partnership with nature. (Adapted from Burns, Nature-Guided Therapy: Brief Integrative Strategies for Health and Well-being)
Practice
Dig a hole
The next time you are facing mental or emotional unrest, try a nature healing technique taught by Native Americans.
Find a place in nature where you can dig a small hole in the soil. Speak your feelings into the hole, giving your emotions to the Earth for healing. When you are finished, fill the hole and give gratitude for your experience. Later, whenever you find yourself thinking about the problem, remember the Earth is in charge of it now and let it go.
Research
Interconnectedness with Nature. In 2001, psychological researcher and California State Professor of Psychology P. Wesley Schultz addressed the three levels of the human/nature connections in a series of four studies. Concerned that environmental research often relied on simple measures (people’s environmental concern from low interest to high interest), his studies did a three-level assessment of environmental concern and values—egotistical (impact on self), altruistic (includes impact on other humans), and biospheric (impact on animals, plants, marine life, and birds). Subjects were college students, the general public, and Spanish-speaking college students from 10 countries.
His results indicated distinctions influenced by people’s interconnectedness with nature. For example, people whose values were more egotistical were less concerned about nature’s wellbeing, especially at the societal and global levels. However, people who scored high on self-transcendence were far more engaged at all three levels (Schultz, 2001).
Resources
Burls, A. (2007). People and green spaces: promoting public health and mental well-being through ecotherapy. Journal of Public Mental Health; 6, 24.
Burns, G.W. (1998). Nature-Guided Therapy: Brief Integrative Strategies for Health and Well-being.New York: Brunner/Mazel.
Schultz, P.W. (2001). The structure of environmental concern: concern for self, other people, and the biosphere. Journal of Environmental Psychology; 21, 327-339.
Leaves & Branches - Nourishment
Personal Nature Healing: Introduction
Definition
Ever since E.O. Wilson proposed that human beings are deeply tied to nature through their biology, people have been interested in researching how and why that might be so.
One area of research has explored the effect nature has on our physical health, demonstrating that nature and scenes of nature reduce blood pressure, respiration rate, and the production of stress hormones and allow us to recover our physical energy (Park, et al, 2010; Hartig, et al, 2003; Orsega-Smith, et al, 2004; Ulrich, et al, 1991b).
Another area of research has focused on the role nature plays in the development of the self and identity. A variety of terms—such as environmental identity and ecological self—have been used to describe a sense of identity that conservation psychologist Susan Clayton says “transcends the individual and encompasses one’s position as part of a living ecosystem” (Clayton & Myers, 2009). Research has demonstrated that acquiring an environmental identity inspires people to care for nature.
Environmental identity can also impact our individual mental health. Researchers are finding answers to questions such as, “What role does nature play in the restoration of a healthy mental state? Can nature assist individuals who are navigating emotionally challenging life experiences?”(Gonzalez, et al, 2010; McCaffrey, et al, 2010).
Other explorations consider how nature helps us develop our purpose and make meaning of life events. Does nature contribute to the evolution of personal ethics, values, and a sense of spirituality? (Health Council of the Netherlands, 2004).
Practice
Nature and Self-Identity. Go outside to visit with nature. Take a piece of paper and pen to record your thoughts. The size of the area is not important—you may choose your backyard, a tree in a city, a park, or a wilderness area.
Once you are seated, practice breathing deeply until you are relaxed. To deepen your experience, you may close your eyes and count one as you inhale and two as you exhale. When you are relaxed, select one small natural object near you, such as a stone, twig, or leaf. Pick the object up and observe it carefully, as if it was a diamond.
Reflect, “What attracts me about this object? What does it teach me about life? How does this object remind me that I am part of nature and nature is part of me?” If you wish, ask, “How does this piece of nature reflect my body, mind, and spirit?” Record your answers.
Resources
Clayton, S., Myers, G. (2009). Conservation Psychology: Understanding and Promoting Human Care for Nature. Oxford: Blackwell Publishing.
Gonzalez, M.T., Hartig, T., et al. (2010). Therapeutic horticulture in clinical depression: A prospective study of active components. Journal of Advanced Nursing; 66(9), 2002-2013.
Hartig, T., Evans, G.W., Jammer, L.D., Davis, D.S. Gärling, T. (2003). Tracking restoration in natural and urban field settings. Journal of Environmental Psychology; 23, 109-123.
Health Council of the Netherlands. (2004). Chapter 8: research into impact on personal development and sense of purpose. Nature and Health: The Influence of Nature on Social, Psychological, and Physical Well-Being.
Hinds, J., Sparks, P. (2009). Investigating environmental identity, well-being, and meaning.Ecopsychology;1(4), 181-187.
Largo-Wight, E., Chen, W. W., Dodd, V., Weiler, R. (2011). Healthy workplaces: the effects of nature contact at work on employee stress and health. Public Health Reports (Washington, D.C.: 1974), 126 Suppl 1, 124-130.
McCaffrey, R., Hanson, C., McCaffrey, W. (2010). Garden walking for depression: A research report. Holistic Nursing Practice; 24(5), 252-259.
Orsega-Smith, E., Mowen, A.J., Payne, L.L Godbey, G. (2004). The interaction of stress and park use on psycho-physiological health in older adults. Journal of Leisure Research; 36(2), 232-257.
Park, B.J., Tsunetsugu, Y., et al. (2010). The physiological effects of shinrin-yoku (taking in the forest atmosphere or forest bathing): Evidence from field experiments in 24 forests across Japan. Environmental Health and Preventative Medicine; 15(1), 18-26.
Park, S., Mattson, R. (2009). Ornamental indoor plants in hospital rooms enhanced health outcomes of patients recovering from surgery. Journal of Alternative & Complementary Medicine; 15(9), 975-980.
Ulrich, R. S. (1991a). Effects of interior design on wellness: theory and recent scientific research.Journal of Health Care Interior Design: Proceedings from the Symposium on Health Care Interior Design; 3, 97-109.
Ulrich, R.S., Simons, R.F., et al. (1991b). Stress recovery during exposure to natural and urban environments. Journal of Environmental Psychology; 11(3), 201-230.
Leaves & Branches – Nourishment
Personal Nature Healing: Physical
Definition
Physical Nature Healing on a personal level explores the various ways human beings turn to nature to improve their physical health.
For example, in the late 19th century, European healthcare professionals initiated the sanatorium movement, where rest, fresh air, and the outdoors were considered essential to a patient’s cure from the ravages of tuberculosis. In the mid-1980s, researchers began to examine more seriously the role nature plays in physical health. Studies during this decade began to reveal that the simple act of being in nature, regardless of the size of the area, has a positive physiological impact on the body, reducing blood pressure, respiration rate, and stress hormones (Baum, et al, 1982; Ulrich & Simons, 1986).
A study of 10,000 Dutch people revealed that people living in greener environments—regardless of level of urbanicity—reported fewer symptoms of ill health and greater perceived general health (de Vries, Verheij, Groenewegen, & Spreeuwenberg, 2003).
Today, despite an increasingly sedentary and technology-based culture, people continue to spontaneously turn to nature, enjoying hobbies such as gardening, running, walking, fishing, golfing, and horseback riding.
Examples
- Self/family identity
- Green exercise
- Care of environment
- Sustainability index
When one tugs at a single thing in nature, he finds it attached to the rest of the world.
John Muir
Stories
Green Exercise. At fifty, James was beginning to feel the effects of working sixty hours a week, rarely exercising, and eating lunch at his desk. He was overweight, had high blood pressure, and always felt tired. On the advice of his doctor, James began a green exercise program with a local community group that walked through the countryside on Saturdays.
James was awed by the natural display of the trees and the quiet hum of wildlife along the hiking trails. The group gradually began jogging and rock climbing. Within a few months, James’s blood pressure had decreased, he had lost several pounds, and he had more energy. “Just by spending time outdoors each week I felt rejuvenated and relaxed when I came into the office on Monday,” he said.
Practice
Leisurely Walk. Before you go out into nature, assign and write down a number on a scale of 1 (poor) to 10 (excellent) that describes your physical, mental, and spiritual health. (You should have 3 numbers.) Then go for a leisurely walk in nature, stopping as you wish to enjoy the scenery or rest. Practice deep breathing as you walk, or sit down if you prefer. When you return, immediately evaluate yourself using the same scale. Has anything changed as a result of your walk?
Research
Get Outside. A 2010 Seattle Times article revealed that modern American adults are spending more time engaged in an indoor sedentary lifestyle, which has harmful implications for health. One striking statistic: women who sat for more than six hours per day were 37% more likely to die than those who sat fewer than three hours per day. On the other hand, adults who spent time in the forests of Japan showed lower cortisol levels, pulse rates, and blood pressure. The implications for nature and health are clear: get outside and get healthy. (Bowman, 2010).
Choose to Walk in Nature. Nature researchers Elizabeth Nisbet and John Zelenski examined the differences between students who walked across their Carleton University campus outside and those who used the tunnels. They found that the outdoor walkers experienced more relaxation, greater fascination, and fewer negative emotions than those who walked indoors. The researchers recommend that all people take advantage of nearby nature—your health and wellbeing benefit by the exposure (Nisbet & Zelenski, 2011).
Take Your Children Outside. Richard Louv’s Last Child in the Woods focuses on the problems children face when they spend too much time inside with television, video games, and smart phones. Louv suggests that this lack of nature and exercise has contributed to the rise in children’s health problems, including obesity and hypertension. He urges parents to incorporate nature into their family activities and encourage their children to explore the outdoors (Louv, 2008).
Resources
Baum, A., Singer, A.E., Baum, C.S. (1982). Stress and the environment. In Evans, G.W. (Ed.), Environmental Stress (pp. 15-44). New York: Cambridge University Press.
Bowman, L. (2010). Medical: spending time outside has many health benefits. The Seattle Times, August. Retrieved January 24, 2013. http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/outdoors/2012594800_weboutside13.html
Burns, G. (1998). Nature-Guided Therapy: Brief Integrative Strategies for Health and Well-Being.New York: Brunner/Mazel.
De Vries, Verheij, Groenewegen, & Spreeuwenberg, (2003), Natural environments—Healthy environments? An exploratory analysis of the relationship between greenspace and health, Environment and Planning A, 35 (10) 1717-1731
Louv, R. (2008). Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder. New York: Algonquin Books.
Nisbet, E., Zelenski, J. (2011). Underestimating nearby nature: affective forecasting errors obscure the happy path to sustainability. Psychological Science; 22, 1101.
Osborne, T. (2008). Kids’ eyes need the great outdoors. New Scientist, August. Retrieved January 24, 2013. http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn14445-kids-eyes-need-the-great-outdoors.html.
Park, B.J, Tsunetsugu, Y., et al. (2010). The physiological effects of Shinrin-Yoku (forest bathing): evidence from field experiments in 24 forests across Japan. Environmental Health and Preventive Medicine; 15(1), 18-26.
Schultz, P.W., Tabanico, J. (2007). Self, identity, and the natural environment: exploring implicit connections with nature. Journal of Applied Social Psychology;37(6), 1219-1247.
UK: Outdoors and Health Network, Interdisciplinary group advocating for advanced research on the relationship between outdoor environments and health. (2010, July). Video. http://vimeo.com/12608524
Ulrich, R.S., Simons, R.F. (1986). Recovery from stress during exposure to everyday outdoor environments. In Wineman, J., Barnes, R., Zimring, C. (Eds.), Proceedings of the Seventeenth Annual Conference of the Environmental Design Research Association (pp. 115-122). Washington, D.C.: EDRA.
Leaves & Branches – Nourishment
Personal Nature Healing: Mental/Emotional
Definition
Mental/Emotional Nature Healing on a personal level focuses on nature’s ability to assist, heal, and/or restore people’s mental and emotional health.
In 1992, psychologist Theodore Roszak called for a new field of study in psychology that focused on the relationship between people and the environment. Rozak had grown concerned about the impact of the environment’s degradation on his clients’ mental health, and his call gave birth to a vast field of study that includes nature-based therapeutics (NBT), eco-psychology and eco-therapy.
Researchers and psychologists began to study nature’s impact on anxiety, depression, and stress by exposing people to natural settings or encouraging them to engage in green (outdoor) exercise (MIND Report, 2007; Bowler, et al, 2010).
Children are impacted by lack of nature exposure or what Richard Luv termed, Nature Deficit Disorder. In 2010 the Kaiser Family Foundation uncovered the average USA child spends 7 hours a day plugged into some form of media and it is probably more now. Yet, time in nature reduces childhood obesity, anxiety, and depression while simultaneously enhances self-esteem and concentration.
Today, therapeutic horticulture, animal-assisted therapy, and wilderness expeditions all work with the human-nature healing relationship. Interestingly, research reveals that nature’s healing power can even occur when people look at nature photos or visualize nature scenes (Berman, et al, 2008). Being in nature itself, however, has the greatest healing impact on mental health and wellbeing.
Examples: Eco-psychology, personal impact; Personal therapeutic horticulture; Green exercise; Animal-assisted therapy; Wilderness inquiry
Personal transformation is best cultivated by partnering with the supreme agent of change, the Earth.
Philip Sutton Chard
Stories
Seeing Depression in a New Light. Terry was suffering from one of the most powerful bouts of depression in his life. His therapist chose an unconventional treatment and sent Terry to his farm, located several miles outside city limits.
It was winter, and Terry noticed the way the wind slapped him in the face when he got out of his truck. Snow covered the flat land as far as the horizon line. Terry’s boots sank into the snow as he walked. He settled beside a frozen pond and noticed that the sensory input from his surroundings—the frigid wind, the blinding snow—had distracted him from his own depressed mental chatter.
Sitting next to the pond, he began to think about what lay underneath the ice. The fish and frogs and larvae that normally thrived under the water were all sleeping, he realized. As the snow began to fall on his own body, Terry had a revelation. He was not unlike the sleeping animals and organisms below the surface of the pond. “I realized that my depression is like the snow,” he said. “It covers everything in me, and it’s like my heart has gone to sleep…but I’m not dead inside. I’m resting.” (Adapted from The Healing Earth)
Eagles Soar. Charlson Meadows is a place where I connect with myself and Mother Nature. I lay down on a grassy hillside, listened to the gentle breeze, felt the warmth of the full sun on my face, and watched a pair of bald eagles soar overhead. These moments were healing beyond compare. What is the price paid for salm, peace, and an unburdened heart? I know those qualities now thanks to my day in nature.
Practice
Pets and Plants
When you are overwhelmed by a personal problem, try spending time with a pet or working in a garden. If you work with a pet, try breathing in rhythm with your animal. If you choose to garden, focus on the soil, the beauty of the flowers, fruit, and/or vegetation.
For a half hour, do nothing but be with your animal or garden. If your mind starts worrying about your difficulties, gently return to your observations. After 30 minutes, note your mental state. You can experiment with pets, gardens, and wild nature to discover if one has a more positive impact on your wellbeing. Recognize that you are constantly changing, so your responses to different types of nature healing experiences may vary.
Research & History
Nature Reduces Anxiety, Depression, and Stress. MIND, a British non-profit dedicated to mental health, ran a series of eco-therapy experiments comparing green exercise (a walk in the park) to indoor exercise (a walk in a shopping mall.) The results linked green exercise to the reduction of stress, anxiety, and depression, as well as an unexpected result—enhanced self-esteem. The researchers recommended that eco-therapy be recognized as a clinically valid treatment for mental stress (MIND report, 2007).
Nature’s Impact on Children with ADHD. Researchers Kuo and Taylor conducted studies of inner-city children diagnosed with ADHD (Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder.) The researchers first compared the diagnosed children who lived near nature (a small park, tree, or even a few bushes) to those who did not have nature near their home. Those with nature had less ADHD symptoms than those who were without nature exposure. The researchers also found that children diagnosed with ADHD were able to concentrate better after a walk in the park (Kuo & Taylor, 2004; Taylor & Kuo, 2009).
Therapeutic Gardening. According to extensive research, gardening is good physical exercise and relieves mental anxiety and stress. After WWII, soldiers with post-traumatic stress disorder were advised to start a garden. This launched the field of therapeutic horticulture. In 1995, researcher Colette Fabrigoule and others took gardening’s impact a step further and began exploring its impact on cognition. In one study, gardening was associated with a 50% reduction of dementia (Fabrigoule, et al, 1995). Another study ten years later showed that students participating in school gardens had an overall improvement in science scores compared to those students not participating (Klemmer, et al, 2005).
Animal Assisted Therapy
Many studies have been done which show that bonds between pets, especially cats and dogs, and their owners provide social relatedness, emotional support, and reduce people’s sense of isolation (Smolkovic, Fajfar, & Mlinaric 2012). This effect also applies to older adults with dementia, psychiatric patients, and substance abuse populations in group therapy (Walsh, 2009). Equine assisted therapy has also proven therapeutic for these populations as well as veterans.
Resources
Berman, M. G., Jonides, J., & Kaplan, S. (2008). The cognitive benefits of interacting with nature.Psychological Science, 19(12), 1207-1212.
Bowler, D. E., Buyung-Ali, L. M., Knight, T. M., & Pullin, A. S. (2010). A systematic review of evidence for the added benefits to health of exposure to natural environments. BMC Public Health, 10, 456.
Chard, P.S. (1999). The Healing Earth. Chanhassen, MN: Northword Press.
Cooper, C., Barnes, M., Eds. (1999). Healing Gardens: Therapeutic Benefits and Design Recommendations. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley Publishing.
Fabrigoule, C., Letenneur, L., Dartigues, J.F., Zarrouk, M., et al. (1995). Social and leisure activities and risk of dementia: a prospective longitudinal study. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society; 43(5), 485-490.
Fine, A.H., Ed. (2006). Handbook on Animal Assisted Therapy: Theoretical Foundations and Guidelines for Practice, 2nd Edition. San Diego: Elsvier.
Klemmer, C. D., Waliczek, T.M., Zajicek, J.M. (2005). Growing minds: the effect of a school gardening program on the science achievement of elementary students. HortTechnology; 15(3),448–553.
Kuo, F., Taylor, A. F. (2004). A potential natural treatment for attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). American Journal of Public Health; 94(9), 1580.
MacLean, Barbara. (2011) Equine-assisted therapy program. Journal of Rehabilitation Research & Development; 48 (7) xi-xii
MIND Report (2007). Ecotherapy: the green agenda for mental health. Retrieved May 20, 2014 from http://www.mind.org.uk/media/273470/ecotherapy.pdf.
Roszak, T. (2009). A psyche as big as the earth. From Ecotherapy: Healing with Nature in Mind. Buzzel,L., Chalquist, C., Eds. San Francisco: Sierra Club Book.
Smolkovic, Fajfar, & Mlinaric, ( 2012). Attachment to pets and interpersonal relationships: Can a four-legged friend replace a two-legged one? Journal of European Psychology Students; 3 (1)
Theodore Roszak (November 13, 1933-July 5, 2011) is credited with creating the term ecopsychology in his 1992 book The Voice of the Earth. Roszak remained an Earth champion up until the time of his death in 2011. He is best known for his 1969 text, The Making of a Counterculture, where he created and explored the term counterculture to describe the 1960s.
Taylor, A. F. and Kuo, F. (2009). Children with attention deficits concentrate better after a walk in the park. Journal of Attention Disorders; 12(5), 402-409.
Walsh, F. (2009), Human-Animal Bonds I: The Relational Significance of Companion Animals. Family Process, 48: 462–480.
Leaves & Branches – Nourishment
Personal Nature Healing: Spiritual
Definition
Spiritual Nature Healing on a personal level explores the role nature plays in fostering values, ethics, and transcendent experiences in life. Three areas of study converge to create the field: science, religion/spirituality, and environmental sustainability.
Empirical research suggests that closeness to nature is positively related to people’s sense of meaning in life and that meaning in turn boosts people’s wellbeing (Howell, Passmore, & Buro, 2012).
Natural or wild environments are also associated with higher levels of eudaimonia—serenity, awe, contemplation, empathy, aliveness and connectedness (Hinds & Sparks, 2011). These qualities are often reported in religious or spiritual experiences.
Human beings have been turning to nature to strengthen their character and uplift their spirits for eons. Indigenous cultures all over the world send their children into the wilderness alone to discover personal meaning within the larger context of nature. Many leaders of religious and spiritual traditions sought solitude in nature to experience the transcendent and bring new messages to humanity.
Organizations such as the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, Outward Bound, and Wilderness Expeditions employ outdoor experience to build character and team-building skills. Religious organizations sometimes offer outdoor education camps for children. In these settings, nature acts as educator, healer, philosophy instructor, counselor, and spiritual director all at once.
In the last twenty years, religions all over the world have become more engaged in environmental issues. Anthropomorphic views that focus on the transcendent experience between humans and God are being augmented by the recognition that all life is animated by spirit and plays a valuable role in the web of life.
Examples: Transcendent Experience with Nature; Interconnectedness/Oneness; Happiness and Meaning/Purpose in Life; Retreat Centers in Nature
The happiest person is one who learns from nature the lesson of worship.
Adapted from Ralph Waldo Emerson
To see a world in a grain of sand, And a heaven in a wild flower, Hold infinity in the palm of your hand, An eternity in an hour.
William Blake
Stories
Wilderness Experience. After months fruitlessly searching for a job after graduation, Sherry was losing confidence in herself. Seeing she was depressed, her parents gifted her with two weeks of wilderness training. Sherry returned a new person.
Of her experience, she said, “I learned the depth of my strength and how much I could accomplish. My courage surprised me…Being surrounded by nature reminded me to keep the Big Picture in mind not only during my wilderness experience, but also when I returned home. Life is in front of me and I have lots of options.”
Nature Healing and Awesome Stars. It was a lovely evening and our group decided to lay down on the grass at the top of a Charlson Meadows hill. Watching the awesome stars and planets was amazing. As we sat around the campfire afterwards, we spontaneously sang healing songs for each other. It continues to be a very profound moment, especially as I listen again to the recording for me.
Center for Spirituality in Nature
A center focused on how nature awakens and reconnects us to our spirituality is located in the Washington, DC area. They remind us, By reconnecting us with the wisdom of nature infused in our faith story, we reconnect with our deepest selves; we reconnect with the Creator and with the creation. Not near Washington, DC? Visit their website for suggested activities you can do wherever you are. Center for Spirituality in Nature
Practice
Mini Solo Quest. Prepare yourself for a mini solo quest by choosing a local park or wilderness area that attracts you. You will be gone for some hours or more, therefore, tell someone where you are going and roughly what you are doing. Lightly pack enough to drink and eat.
When you reach your chosen area, walk intentionally searching until someplace welcomes you to sit down. Using stones or sticks, create a circle and then sit anywhere within it knowing you’ll be there for a few hours at a minimum. While you’re inside the circle, watch everything that happens, allowing worries and daily preoccupations to dissolve away. Extend your presence into all that surrounds you and invite all that surrounds you into yourself.
At the end of your time, express gratitude to all that has shared this experience with you. Return anything you have moved to its original spot.
Afterwards, or at home later, record in a journal what you remember about your experience. Over the following years, visit your place in your imagination and strive to remember and apply what you have learned.
Research & History
History of Religion and Nature. The Industrial Age sparked environmental concern in the United States fueled by the work of writers like Henry David Thoreau. Christian and other spiritual groups were frequently divided between those who felt humans were the divinely appointed masters of nature and those who believed that humans were one of many in a planetary community of life. Through the first 70 years of the 20th century, the basic struggle between these two camps ranged from variations on Christian concepts of ‘divine destiny’ and the exploration of ‘primitive Indigenous’ views of nature.
A 1967 article by historian Lynn White became the rallying point around the nature and religion debate. White wrote, “Since the roots of our [environmental troubles] are so largely religious, the remedy must also be essentially religious.” Rachel Carson’s famous Silent Spring, which highlighted environmental concerns with religious undertones, was published five years earlier. This work and the interest of religious organizations lay a foundation for a local and eventually a worldwide environmental movement.
Nature’s Fosters Happiness. Zelenski and Nisbet addressed how connection with nature or nature relatedness predicts happiness in comparison to more general connections (e.g. with family, friends, community). They discovered that general connections do predict happiness well, yet nature relatedness is a unique predictor of happiness even after controlling for other connections. Other research suggests that these effects remain stable into old age.
Health, Nature, and Purpose. In a review of current research, the Health Council of the Netherlands (2004) found a relationship (1) between health and a sense of purpose and (2) between a sense of purpose and an experience of nature. This cascade suggests nature’s indirect role in fostering and supporting a sense of purpose in human beings.
Resources
Adams, C., ed. (2002). The Soul Unearthed: Celebrating Wilderness and Spiritual Renewal through Nature. Boulder, CO: Sentient Publications.
Carson, R. (1962). Silent Spring. Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin.
Center for Spirituality in Nature, Washington, DC
De Boer, L. (2011). An ethical way of being in the world. National Catholic Reporter; December 9 – 22, 3a – 5a.
Health Council of the Netherlands. (2004). Chapter 8: research into impact on personal development and sense of purpose. Nature and Health: The Influence of Nature on Social, Psychological, and Physical Well-Being.
Hinds & Sparks. (2011). The affective quality of human-natural environment relationships. Evolutionary Psychology; 9 (3)
Howell, Passmore, & Buro. (2012) Meaning in nature: meaning in life as a mediator of the relationship between nature and well-being. Journal of Happiness Studies; 13 (6)
Zelenski, John M., Nisget, Elizabeth K. (2014) Happiness and felling connected: the distinct role of nature relatedness; 46 (1) 3-23
White, Lynn, Jr. (1967). The historical roots of our ecologic crisis. Science;155(3767), 1203-1207.
Leaves & Branches – Nourishment
Societal Nature Healing: Introduction
Definition
Societal Nature Healing includes policy and application efforts by local, state, and national organizations to provide the public access to nature in order to enhance their physical, mental, and spiritual health and wellbeing.
With the advent of industrial society and the subsequent migration to urban and suburban areas, people’s interaction with nature has increasingly diminished. To combat this loss and preserve land, many towns and cities created nearby parks while states and nations developed public park systems.
Today, scientific research on nature’s impact inspires public and private branches of society to create healthcare programs such as green exercise, care farming, therapeutic horticulture, inner-city gardens, new hospital and school designs, eco-justice efforts, and animal-assisted therapy. Results from these studies often show how that, in addition to the health and wellbeing benefits, they save society money. Studies have shown the financial benefits, as well as the health efficacy, of many of these efforts (Shoup & Ewing, 2010; Been & Voicu, 2006; Harnik & Well, 2009). Some societal problems that are being addressed with Nature Healing methodologies are obesity, at-risk youth, social isolation, crime and violence, and poverty.
Practice
Nature and Societal/Social Identity. Go outside to visit with nature. You can take something to record your thoughts or not. Once you are seated, practice breathing deeply in a relaxed manner. Count one on the inhale and two on the exhale until you are inwardly more silent and still.
Observe the nature all around you, from pebbles to leaves to ants. When you are ready, select 1 or more natural objects to focus on. You may pick them up or just observe them.
Contemplating the thing(s) you chose, ask yourself, “How are these objects related to my societal and social identity?” You may also ask: how does nature reflect and influence my societal and social values? For example, how much do I know about my town’s environmental policies? Do I spend time in nature with my friends or family members? What local organizations or activities that foster sustainability do I support?
Resources
Been, V., Voicu, I. (2006). “The Effect of Community Gardens on Neighboring Property Values.” Law & Economics Research Paper Series Working Paper No. 06-09.
Harnik, P., Well, B. (2009). Measuring the economic value of a city park system. Washington, D.C., The Trust for Public Land, pg 10.
Nisbet, E.K., Zelenski, J.M., Murphy, S.A. (2009). The nature relatedness scale: linking individuals’ connection with nature to environmental concern and behavior. Environment and Behavior;(41), 715-740.
Shoup, L., Ewing, R. (2010). The economic benefits of open space, recreation facilities and walkable community design. Robert Wood Johnson Foundation-Active Living Research, pg. 28.
Leaves & Branches – Nourishment
Societal Nature Healing: Physical
Definition
Physical Nature Healing on a societal level describes the efforts of nations, states, cities, and groups to assure their populations access to nature.
Society’s efforts contribute to healthier communities and work forces, promote neighborhood interactions, and increase happiness (Kuo, 2010). Parks and recreation areas remain the most important ways a society encourages the health and wellbeing of its members by providing access to green exercise and time in nature, which has been shown to reduce blood pressure, respiration rate, and the production of stress hormones (Park, et al, 2010; Hartig, et al, 2003; Orsega-Smith, et al, 2004).
Even the small act of planting trees and shrubs in neighborhoods can have a large impact on health. Communities also turn to nature in an effort to provide healthy food.
Societies are beginning to recognize the reciprocal relationship between the natural environment and human health and human actions and the health of the natural environment. Organizations and governments are instituting policies and practices such as recycling, retrofitting buildings, reducing fossil fuel use, using renewable energy, driving in carpool lanes, and reducing waste to address environmental health.
Examples:
Parks & Recreation; Master Gardening; Programs to Address Nature Deprivation; Environmental Protection and Sustainability Initiatives; Eco-justice; Social/Societal identity; Biomimicry
Nature can teach us everything.
Mokichi Okada, Japanese Philosopher and Spiritual Leader
Stories
Green Space Changes Neighborhoods. Somali immigrants Amir and Madar lived next to noisy, smelly, industrial factories, so their apartment was often filled with dust and grime. Petty crime was also rampant in the neighborhood, so Madar kept the children inside after school. When the couple learned that a non-profit was trying to sponsor a small park with trees and bushes in their area, Amir began working on its behalf.
After the park was complete, the neighborhood began to change. Neighbors had a safe place to sit and walk. Children enjoyed actively playing and creating innovative games suited to the small area. Pride in the community grew. Not only was the park kept clean, but people started using the previously ignored trash cans to throw out their refuse. Graffiti began to disappear. Although the pollution remained a problem, Amir and Madar developed a sense of belonging and felt empowered to make positive changes in their neighborhood.
Practice
Nature and Work. Research suggests that even indoor plants, or a photograph or painting of nature, can increase your wellbeing and productivity (Berman, et al, 2008; Largo-Wight, et al, 2011). Put a favorite nature picture or plant in your workspace for at least one month.
Take a few moments every day to enjoy what you’ve placed. Has your sense of productivity or wellbeing improved?
Conversation. Create a list of 8-10 ways green spaces benefit society.
Have at least one conversation about your list with a friend or friends.
Gratitude. Look up what department in your town or city is responsible for green spaces or nature beautification projects (curbside gardens, planters, park paths, and so on). Write a letter of gratitude for their efforts.
Research
Benefits from Parks. In a 2010 report, researcher Frances Kuo states, “The question is no longer,do people living in greener neighborhoods have better health outcomes? (They do.) Rather the question has become, do people living in greener neighborhoods have better health outcomes when we take income and other advantages associated with greener neighborhoods into account?
The answer is ‘Yes, they do.’ Kuo continues further, “While street trees, parks, and public green spaces are often regarded as mere amenities—ways to beautify our communities and make life a little more pleasant—the science tells us that they play a central role in human health and healthy human function” (Kuo, 2010).
Good Test Scores and Nature. Can nature’s presence really help student performance? Working with 101 Michigan high schools, researcher Rodney H. Matsuoka analyzed students’ academic achievement and behavior, based on their access to nature. Results showed that more exposure to nature was positively associated with test scores, graduation rates, number of students planning to attend college, and fewer criminal behaviors. These results may be attributable to both the enhanced physical health and increased self-esteem that interaction with nature provided (Matsuoka, 2010).
Economic Benefits. Several studies, including those led by Atchley (2012), Harnik (2009), Shoup (2010), and Tennles (2009), have explored the economic benefit of providing green spaces for the public. As the health problems related to sedentary lifestyles mount (childhood and adult obesity, depression, and stress), studies show that providing people with walkable neighborhoods, parks, and open spaces enhances health and creates financial benefits to local governments, home owners, and businesses. In addition to improved property value, more business revenue, and an increased tax base, these green areas bring in greater tourism, community cohesion, and clean air.
Resources
Atchley, R.A., Strayer, D.L., Atchley, P. (2012). Creativity in the wild: improving creative reasoning through immersion in natural settings. PLOS ONE; 7(12), e51474.
Berman, M. G., Jonides, J., & Kaplan, S. (2008). The cognitive benefits of interacting with nature.Psychological Science, 19(12), 1207-1212.
Hartig, T., Evans, G.W., Jammer, L.D., Davis, D.S. Gärling, T. (2003). Tracking restoration in natural and urban field settings. Journal of Environmental Psychology; 23, 109-123.
Health Council of the Netherlands. (2004). Chapter 8: research into impact on personal development and sense of purpose. Nature and Health: The Influence of Nature on Social, Psychological, and Physical Well-Being.
Harnik, P., Well, B. (2009). Measuring the economic value of a city park system. Washington, D.C., The Trust for Public Land, pg 10.
Kuo, F.E. (2010). Parks and other green environments: Essential components of a healthy human habitat. Report: National Recreation and Park Association. Active Living Research: Using Evidence to Prevent Childhood Obesity and Create Active Communities, Informative, active website associated with report.
Largo-Wight, E., Chen, W. W., Dodd, V., & Weiler, R. (2011). Healthy workplaces: The effects of nature contact at work on employee stress and health. Public Health Reports (Washington, D.C.: 1974), 126 Suppl 1, 124-130.
Matsuoka, R. H. (2010). Student performance and high school landscapes: Examining the links.Landscape and Urban Planning; 97(4), 273-282.
Orsega-Smith, E., Mowen, A.J., Payne, L.L Godbey, G. (2004). The interaction of stress and park use on psycho-physiological health in older adults. Journal of Leisure Research; 36(2), 232-257.
Park, B.J., Tsunetsugu, Y., et al. (2010). The physiological effects of shinrin-yoku (taking in the forest atmosphere or forest bathing): Evidence from field experiments in 24 forests across Japan. Environmental Health and Preventative Medicine; 15(1), 18-26.
Research & Innovation: Environment, Website, European Commission, http://ec.europa.eu/research/environment/index_en.cfm.
Shoup, L., Ewing, R. (2010). The economic benefits of open space, recreation facilities and walkable community design. Robert Wood Johnson Foundation-Active Living Research, pg. 28.
Tellnes, G. (2009). How can nature and culture promote health? Scandinavian Journal of Public Health; (37), 559.
TKF Foundation, Open Spaces, Sacred Places, Research on the role nature plays through nature oases in inner city areas.
Vowles, A. (2004). Guelph-Humber plant wall a breath of fresh air. University of Guelph; 48(17). Retrieved February 7, 2013 from: http://www.uoguelph.ca/atguelph/04-11-10/featuresair.shtml.
Wichrowski, M., Whiteson, J., et al. (2005). Effects of horticultural therapy on mood and heart rate in patients participating in an inpatient cardiopulmonary rehabilitation program. Journal of Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation; 25(5), 270-274.
Video: Community movement for Green Agenda
http://queens.ny1.com/content/top_stories/114766/queens-residents-launch-a–green-agnda
Videos, Chicago Green Roofs
http://www.artic.edu/webspaces/greeninitiatives/greenroofs/main.htm
Article, Are Green Roofs Working
http://www.wbez.org/series/curious-city/green-roofs-check-101677
NYC High Line
http://www.thehighline.org/galleries/images
Schultz, P.W., Tabanico, J. (2007). Self, identity, and the natural environment: exploring implicit connections with nature. Journal of Applied Social Psychology;37(6), 1219-1247.
UK: Outdoors and Health Network, Interdisciplinary group advocating for advanced research on the relationship between outdoor environments and health. (2010, July). Video.http://vimeo.com/12608524
Ulrich, R.S., Simons, R.F. (1986). Recovery from stress during exposure to everyday outdoor environments. In Wineman, J., Barnes, R., Zimring, C. (Eds.), Proceedings of the Seventeenth Annual Conference of the Environmental Design Research Association (pp. 115-122). Washington, D.C.: ED
Leaves & Branches – Nourishment
Societal Nature Healing: Mental/Emotional
Definition
Mental/Emotional Nature Healing on a societal level focuses on how private, public, and government organizations are offering nature as a healing modality for vulnerable populations.
One of the most powerful applications of Societal Nature Healing is in the field of mental health. For example, at a policy level, green exercise has become a legitimate therapeutic choice for those suffering from clinical depression, anxiety, and stress (McCaffery, et al, 2012; MIND Report, 2007; Morita, et al, 2007). Green exercise and other programs help all human beings going through periods of depression, anxiety, and stress.
The mental health of the unemployed, homeless, recovering alcoholics and drug abusers, older people, veterans, or at-risk youth are impacted positively by movements such as care farming, animal-assisted therapy, healing gardens in hospitals and schools, and greening inner city areas (Kuo & Sullivan, 2001; Hine, et al, 2008; Violette & Wilmarth, 2009; Bare, 2012).
In addition to helping people restore mental health and wellbeing, spending time in nature and/or engagement in environmental efforts increases happiness. Because happiness enhances health and wellbeing, it reduces healthcare costs also providing an economic benefit to societies. (Maller, et al, 2005; Nisbet, et al, 2011).
Examples: Eco-psychology; Green Agenda for Mental Health: Social Therapeutic Horticulture; Care Farming in Europe; Outdoor Education/Character; Green Cities; Animal-assisted therapy/social
Stories
Green Job. Since he was 13 years old, Jake had been in and out of various New York State prison settings for petty theft, selling drugs, and assault. Prison life was all he knew—most of his friends were fellow inmates, so when he broke the law, it felt like coming home.
Jake’s transformation began when he started helping out at the greenhouse on Riker’s Island. Growing and taking care of plants was like taking care of himself in a way that he never experienced.
Jake’s experience at Riker’s Island greenhouse inspired him to get a job in a local nursery when he was released. He has remained out of prison for five years. (Adapted from Doing Time in the Garden: Life Lessons through Prison Horticulture)
Practice
Visit A Park. On a sunny weekend day, take writing utensils and a tablet with you to an urban park. Sit on a bench and observe relationships. What are the children, parents, young adults, older adults, and animals doing? How are they relating? If you wish, draw a schematic of the park and lines of relationships. What does this park tell you about human interactions? What doesn’t it tell you? What could be improved? For example, you may watch a child who is playing alone be invited by others to join, or you may observe two close friends engaged in creative play.
Volunteer. Many cities have volunteer clean-up programs serving their parks, local recycling, or roadways. Volunteer to clean up your city, county, or state. Spend a day in nature with others to beautify urban environments or restore nature’s beauty.
Research
Nature Improves Mental Health and Enhances Social Interaction. Prolific researcher Dr. Frances Kuo and her colleagues have conducted studies on nature’s positive impact on school dropout rates, concentration in children diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), neighborhood aggression and violence, cognitive test scores, and life expectancy. Kuo’s article “Green Streets, Not Mean Streets” suggests that even a few trees or bushes in inner-city areas reduce criminal and violent behavior (Kuo & Sullivan, 2001).
Care Farm Movement. A growing movement in the UK and parts of Europe, care farming is a program that promotes physical and mental health in vulnerable populations—such as people with depression or addiction issues, children with autism, young offenders, and adults on probation—by having them work on local farms. Surveys conducted have shown that working on a care farm can significantly reduce feelings of anger, confusion, and depression, while increasing self-confidence and energy (Hine, et al, 2008).
Economic Realities. In 2005, depression alone cost the Australian economy $3.3 billion in lost productivity, inspiring Australian researcher Cecily Maller and colleagues to address the economic benefits of Nature Healing. They produced a summary of research evidence suggesting that contact with nature may prevent mental health issues while enhancing health and wellbeing, thus benefitting the economy (Maller, et al, 2005).
Happiness. A 2011 review suggests that a disconnection from nature may have a detrimental effect on human happiness. Results from previous studies suggest that nature-relatedness is positively correlated with vitality, autonomy, personal growth, and purpose in life (Nisbet, et al, 2011).
Resources
Bare, S. (2012). Turning to nature after returning from Iraq. Huffington Post, January, 18.
Hine, R., Peacock, J., Pretty, J. (2008). Care farming in the UK: evidence and opportunities. Executive Summary, Report for Care Farming Initiative in the UK.
Kuo, F.E., et al. (1998). Fertile ground for community: Inner-city neighborhood common spaces.American Journal of Community Psychology; 26(6).
Kuo, F.E., Sullivan, W.C. (2001). Green streets, not mean streets. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Human-Environment Research Laboratory; 1(2). Condensed from: Kuo, F.E., Sullivan, W.C. (2001). Environment and crime in the inner city: does vegetation reduce crime?Environment and Behavior; 33(3), 343-367.
Kuo, F.E., Sullivan, W. C. (2001). Environment and crime in the inner city: does vegetation reduce crime? Environment and Behavior;33(3), 343-367.
Kuo, F.E. (2001). Coping with poverty: impacts of environment and attention in the inner city.Environment and Behavior; 33(1), 15–34.
JIler, J. (2006). Doing Time in the Garden: Life Lessons through Prison Horticulture. Oakland, CA: New Village Press.
Maller, C., Townsend, M., Pryor, A., Brown, P., St. Leger, L. (2005). Healthy nature healthy people: ‘contact with nature’ as an upstream health promotion intervention for populations. Health Promotion International, 21.
McCaffery, R., Hansen, C., McCaffery, W. (2012) Garden walking for depression: a research report.Holistic Nursing Practice; 24(5), 252-259.
MIND. (2007). Executive Summary, The Green Agenda for Mental Health. Retrieved May 20, 2014.
http://www.mind.org.uk/media/211252/Ecotherapy_The_green_agenda_for_mental_health_Executive_summary.pdfhttp://www.mind.org.uk/assets/0000/2139/ecotherapy_executivesummary.pdf
MIND. (2007). Full report, The Green Agenda for Mental Health. Retrieved May 20, 2014.
http://www.mind.org.uk/media/273470/ecotherapy.pdfhttp://www.mind.org.uk/assets/0000/2138/ecotherapy_report.pdf
Morita, E., Fukuda, S., et al. (2007). Psychological effects of forest environments on healthy adults: Shinrin-Yoku (forest air-bathing, walking) as a possible method of stress reduction. Public Health; 121(1), 54-63.
Nisbet, E., Zelenski, J.M., Murphy, S.M. (2011). Happiness is in our nature: exploring nature relatedness as a contributor to subjective well-being. Journal of Happiness Studies;12, 303-322.
Sempik, J., Hine, R., Wilcox, D., Eds. (2012). Green Care: A Conceptual Framework, A Report of the Working Group on the Health Benefits of Green Care. Published by the European Cooperation in Science and Technology.
Sullivan, W.C., Kuo, F.E., DePoorter, S. (2004). The fruit of urban nature: vital neighborhood spaces. Environments and Behavior; 36(5), 678-700.
The Horticulture Society of New York’s website: Riker’s Island Green House. Retrieved January 28, 2013.
Violette, K., and Wilmarth, M. (2009). “Hippotherapy: A Therapeutic Treatment Strategy,” Today in PT, March. Retrieved January 28, 2013.
Leaves & Branches – Nourishment
Societal Nature Healing: Spiritual
Definition
At the societal level, nature healing reflects nature’s capacity to inspire human populations ethically and spiritually. These inspirations are ancient, and their roots can be found all over the Earth.
As environmentalism and sustainability grew in the last third of the 20th century, traditional religions began to explore the role of stewardship in nature. What is nature’s intrinsic value beyond what it does for humans? What actions can we take to increase sustainable behavior and protect nature?
In addition to traditional religious exploration, secular environmental movements offer programs that inform, awaken, and educate people about nature’s sacred value.
Examples: Deep Ecology Movement; Eco-Spirituality Movement; Reverence Movement
At times I feel as if I am spread out over the landscape and inside things, and am myself living in every tree, in the splashing of the waves, in the clouds and the animals that come and go, in the procession of the seasons. There is nothing with which I am not linked.
C. G. Jung, from Memories, Dreams, and Reflections
Stories
The Ducks Win. Eco-justice can refer to the rights of individuals to have access to nature in their environment, but it can also support the rights of nature. In an October 2010 landmark case, a judge fined Syncrude Canada a total of $800,000 and ordered them to provide $2.2 million for wildlife research and monitoring. The crime? The company had failed to take reasonable action to prevent the deaths of 1,606 ducks on the company’s toxic Aurora Settling Basin. This case was hailed as a big victory for eco-justice supporters (Environment Canada, 2010).
Sacred Sites. At the societal or cultural level, people worldwide have independently established sacred sites, places in nature that are known for their spirituality and healing capacities. Places such as Lourdes in France, the Ganges River in India, the Medicine Wheel in Wyoming, and Stonehenge were all used by societies for prayer, meditation, ceremonies, healing, and pilgrimages. An example of their public power is found in Japan, where the Japanese Shinto religion teaches that rivers, mountains, rocks, and trees are filled with kami, meaning nature spirits (Taylor, 2005). This perspective has contributed to public policies that tend to restrict building on mountains to religious organizations or not at all.
Practice
Visit. If there is a sacred site (a place where people go to pray or create ceremony,) go visit it and experience prayer, contemplation, or inner silence. If you are not near a sacred site, consider creating one of your own. The size and locale of such a site are irrelevant. It can be a tiny corner in your garden, an area in your house for indoor plants, a spot in a nearby park or on your land, etc. What makes the place sacred is its continual use for connection to what you consider sacred. If you cannot visit physically, consider going there with vivid imagination.
Nature and Inspiration. Gather a few friends to tell stories of when and how nature has inspired you all or increased a sense of reverence, awe, and/or spirituality. You can also do this alone by listing the times nature has inspired you and expressing gratitude for them.
All My Relations. Wherever you are, offer a prayer for the health and wellbeing of nature. Native Americans begin and end such prayers with “All My Relations,” meaning that you are offering this prayer on behalf of all life.
Research
Conservation Volunteers’ Connection to Nature. A 2009 study addressed questions such as: How do volunteers express their connection to nature? How and when did conservation volunteers develop a connection to nature? How does a connection to nature influence volunteering, and vice versa? They interviewed, surveyed, and analyzed 171 Minnesota Master Naturalist volunteers. Amazingly, the majority of volunteers experienced a connection to nature in various ways before they were 10 years old (Guiney & Oberhauser, 2009).
Can Nature Make Us More Caring? University of Rochester researchers explored the difference in people’s life values and aspirations before and after they had immersed themselves in a nature slide show. Results showed that participants exposed to nature valued intrinsic aspirations (such as lasting relationships and working for the improvement of the world) more and extrinsic aspirations (such as wealth and admiration) less than before they had been exposed to nature (Weinstein, et al, 2009). Is society’s emphasis on wealth and material things a direct reflection of less human exposure to nature?
Resources
Environment Canada. (2010) $3 million award imposed on Syncrude Canada Ltd. convicted of violating environmental laws [press release]. Retrieved May 20, 2014 from http://www.ec.gc.ca/alef-ewe/default.asp?lang=En&n=9BECA453-1http://www.ec.gc.ca/default.asp?lang=En&n=714D9AAE-1&news=5D3B3033-40C2-490A-934A-5650D5A67049.
Guiney, M.S., Oberhauser, K.S. (2009). Conservation volunteers’ connection to nature.Ecopsychology; 1(4).
Macy, J. (1941). World As Lover, World As Self. Berkeley, CA: Parallax Press.
Nisbet, E.K., Zelenski, J.M, Murphy, S.A. (2009). The nature relatedness scale: linking individuals’ connection with nature to environmental concern and behavior. Environment and Behavior; 41, 715-740.
Seed, J., Macy, J., Fleming, P., Naess, A. (1988). Thinking Like A Mountain. Philadelphia, PA: New Society Publishers.
Taylor, B. (Ed.) (2005). Encyclopedia of Religion and Nature, Volume I. London: Continuum.
Weinstein, N., Przybylski, A.K., Ryan, R.M. (2009). Can nature make us more caring? Effects of immersion in nature on intrinsic aspirations and generosity. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin; 35, 1315-1330.
Leaves & Branches – Nourishment
Global Nature Healing: Introduction
Definition
Global Nature Healing reflects humanity’s desire to secure the health and wellbeing of nature—Earth’s community of life. The reverse is also true: nature’s health secures the possibility of human health and wellbeing.
For example, some experts have suggested that deteriorating global ecosystems, environmental pollution, and climate change could be the greatest human health challenges the world has ever known.
Global Nature Healing examines human physical, mental, and spiritual health and wellbeing from a whole-planet perspective.
Large-scale problems such as loss of biodiversity and endemic poverty and hunger around the world motivate research, discussion, and international policy changes. From an awareness of the interconnectedness of all life, global organizations and movements work to assure the future of a thriving global community. This is the macro level of Nature Healing.
At this level, in addition to our personal and societal identities, nature contributes to a global identity. Researchers have shown that our ecological identity includes “self, the human and non-human community, and the planet’s ecosystems, so that damage to the planet is seen as damage to the self” (Nisbet, 2011). Our global identity can motivate us to care for the environment and the health of the Earth.
Practice
Nature and Global Identity Go outside and sit in nature. Or, sit where you have a view of nature. Carefully observe nature focusing on the smallest things as well as everything that surrounds you. Almost everything around you is part of nature or was made by something from nature.
As you observe, breathe deeply in a relaxed manner. Count one as you inhale and two as you exhale. When you are fully relaxed, be aware of the vastness, complexity, and beauty of nature and the Earth.
On the inhale, experience yourself sitting on the Earth.
On your exhale, expand your sense of your being to include the entire Earth.
Continue inhaling as personal identity and exhaling to global identity. When you are done, inhale once more and exhale a sense of gratitude. Note any changes in mood, thoughts, or imaginations.
Resources
Cornelius, M., Robinson, T. N. (2011). Global Identity and Environmental Sustainability-Related Attitudes and Actions (Doctoral dissertation). Retrieved from http://www.stanford.edu/group/peec/cgi-bin/docs/behavior/research/global%20identity%20manuscript%20final.pdf.
Earth Policy Institute website. (2013). http://www.earth-policy.org/
Earth Watch website. (2013). http://www.worldwatch.org/
Nisbet, E., Zelenski, J., Murphy, S. (2011). Happiness is in our nature: exploring nature relatedness as a contributor to subjective well-being. Journal of Happiness Studies; 12, 303-322.
Leaves & Branches – Nourishment
Global Nature Healing: Physical
Definition
Global Nature Healing on a physical level is seen in our concern for the physical health of nature and our understanding of human dependence on nature. As the Earth’s health goes, so goes human health.
For example, top American medical groups have encouraged members to get involved with EPA standards to improve human health. A peer-reviewed EPA study found that the economic benefits of the Clean Air Act exceed the costs by 30 to 1, based on the connection of air pollution to childhood respiratory illnesses, asthma attacks, chronic bronchitis, and premature deaths (U.S. EPA, 2011).
Many organizations are dedicated to large scale, planetary approaches in addressing global challenges, such as climate change, decline of biodiversity, and degradation of the environment. From their perspective, animals (which include humans) and plants are all part of the web of life—a complex, interconnected ecosystem upon which our mutual lives depend. As environmentalist David Suzuki stated, “The ecosystem is the fundamental capital on which all life is dependent” (Suzuki, 1990).
Imagery is often key to a fundamental shift in perspective. The famous Blue Marble photo, NASA’s Apollo 17 Mission’s first full image of the Earth, was taken Dec 7, 1972 and rapidly became an iconic image of planetary identity.
Examples: Biospheric Identity; UN Earth Summits: World Sustainability: Climate Change: Endangered Life; Ethical Capitalism: Eco-Agriculture
Stories
Earth Day
On September 20, 1969—two months after the July 21 televised landing of humans on the Moon—U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson attended a Seattle environmental conference, where he called for an environmental teach-in, or Earth Day, on Wednesday, April 22, 1970.
Devastated by the 1969 oil spill in Santa Barbara and inspired by student anti-Vietnam war protests, Senator Nelson pressed on with the idea without a big budget, adequate staff, or the modern ease of Internet communication. He and his chief organizer, David Nelson, wanted to increase awareness and appreciation of the Earth’s natural environment. Miraculously, 20 million people celebrated the first Earth Day, and the environmental movement was launched in the USA.
Today the Earth Day Network partners with 22,000 organizations around the globe and Earth Day is celebrated in 192 nations by over 1 billion people. Thus far, over 2 billion trees have been planted with the continued goal of reaching 3 billion trees.
Nelson explains its extraordinary success: “Earth Day worked because of spontaneous response at the grass roots level. We had neither the time nor resources to organize 20 million demonstrators and the thousands of schools and local communities that participated. That was the remarkable thing about Earth Day. It organized itself”(www.earthday.org/).
Practice
Review. Review your relationship with nature throughout your life. How has nature touched you? Note that many leaders in global health and wellbeing had powerful personal experiences with nature or direct insight into the role that environmental degradation plays in human health. In what ways has your relationship with nature inspired you to act on its behalf?
5 Things. List five ways you participate in the global community by caring for the Earth.
Health Assessment. Spend one hour familiarizing yourself with some of the Earth health assessment methods used by 350.org, Worldwatch Institute, Earth Justice, or other organizations of your choice.
Research & History
Global Identity. Stanford University researchers asked public high-school students to complete surveys about their global identity and their sustainability-related attitudes and actions. Results showed that having a global identity was related to valuing environmental sustainability (Cornelius & Robinson, 2011).
Sustainability. The 1972 Stockholm UN meeting on environmental degradation appointed Gro Brundtland (a physician and former Prime Minister of Norway and president of the World Health Organization) head of a UN team reporting on global sustainability and health. This UN team published the Brundtland Report (later to be called the Brundtland Commission), which established a definition of sustainability that is still used today: “Sustainable development meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” It also recognized that sustainability is based on an interacting triangle of economic, sociopolitical, and environmental issues. In 2001, cultural diversity was added as a fourth point with the explanation that “cultural diversity is as necessary for humankind as biodiversity is for nature”(Brundtland Report, 2001).
Natural Step Program. Physician Karl-Henrik Robèrt, one of Sweden’s leading cancer researchers, was so convinced of the connection between environmental problems and human health that he convinced Swedish scientists to create a consensus report. In 1991, he persuaded the nation’s head of state to endorse sending an education packet about the report to every household and school in Sweden. The Natural Step Program for sustainability was then created and applied throughout Sweden. Its sustainability framework is being used in 18 countries (www.naturalstep.org).
Worldwatch Institute. How is the health of an entire planet researched and assessed? Lester Brown, a farm-raised expert on global food supplies, founded the Worldwatch Institute in 1974 with a $500,000 grant from the Rockefeller Brothers Fund. It was the first research facility devoted to the analysis of global environmental issues. They began publishing the annual “The State of the World Report” in 2003 and the “Vital Signs Report” in 2011. Together these reports focus on environmental health and sustainability progress. Lester Brown, who has been called “one of the world’s most influential thinkers” was granted a $250,000 “genius award” by the McArthur Foundation and went on to found The Earth Policy Institute, an organization dedicated to solutions for the environmental challenges we are facing (www.worldwatch.org).
UN Conferences on Climate Change, COP21
The 195 nations attending the United Nations 21st conference on climate change (COP21) held in Paris, November 30, 2015 – Decemeber 11, 2015 reached an historic agreement to lower planet-warming greenhouse gas emissions. UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon, stated, This is a truly historic moments. For the first time we have a truly universal agreement on climate change, one of the crucial problems on earth.” Many scientist praised the agreement while pointing out that the key will be implementation. Others suggested that this was the end of fossil fuel energy dependence and the beginning of a new sustainable era. Many videos. NYTimes, Nation Approve Landmark Climate Accord in Paris
Resources
Brown, L. (2009). Plan B 4.0: Mobilizing to Save Civilization. New York: W. W. Norton & Company.
Brown, L. (2011). World on the Edge: How to Prevent Environmental and Economic Collapse. New York: W. W. Norton & Company.
Brown, L. (2012). Full Planet, Empty Plates: The New Geopolitics of Food Scarcity. New York: W. W. Norton & Company.
Cornelius, M., Robinson, T. N. (2011). Global Identity and Environmental Sustainability-Related Attitudes and Actions. Sanford University. Retrieved January 28, 2013 from: http://www.stanford.edu/group/peec/cgi-bin/docs/behavior/research/global identity manuscript final.pdf.
Earth Day Network. http://www.earthday.org/
Gips, T. (2010). Sustainability. Webpage and online module in collaboration with the Whole Systems Healing collaboration, Center for Spirituality and Healing, University of Minnesota. Available at: http://www.csh.umn.edu/wsh/Sustainability.
The Natural Step. http://www.naturalstep.org/
Reinberg, S. (2011). Medical groups warn of climate change’s potential impact on health. US News,Feb 24. Retrieved February 6, 2013 from: http://health.usnews.com/health-news/family-health/allergy-and-asthma/articles/2011/02/24/medical-groups-warn-of-climate-changes-potential-impact-on-health.
Report of the World Commission on Environment and Development: Our Common Future (The Brundtland Report). Retrieved February 7, 2013 from: http://www.un-documents.net/our-common-future.pdf.
Suzuki, D. (1990). Inventing the Future. Sydney: Allen and Unwin.
U.S. EPA. The Benefits and Costs of the Clean Air Act from 1990 to 2020: Final Report. (March 2011). Office of Air and Radiation.
World Health Organization. (2009). Protecting health from climate change: global research priorities. Retrieved January 28, 2013 from:http://whqlibdoc.who.int/publications/2009/9789241598187_eng.pdf
A Few Organizations
United Nations: http://www.un.org/climatechange
350: http://www.350.org/
Earth Justice: http://earthjustice.org/
The Earth Policy Institute: http://www.earth-policy.org/
The Natural Step: http://www.naturalstep.org
One Health, UC Davis: http://www.ucghi.universityofcalifornia.edu/coes/one-health/index.aspx
Rainforest Action Network: http://ran.org
Worldwatch Institute http://www.worldwatch.org
Leaves & Branches – Nourishment
Global Nature Healing: Mental/Emotional
Definition
Mental/Emotional Nature Healing on a global scale eco-healing on the emotional relationship between human beings and their experience of nature from a global perspective.
Some psychological studies have focused on human refusal to believe or be concerned about reports of environmental degradation due to human behavior. Why do humans refuse to respond to scientific data that suggests we may be endangering the health of the ecosystems upon which we depend?
The primary results of the APA Task Force study found that three reasons for people’s reluctance are that they: (1) are not convinced by the evidence alone, (2) assume they need to give up their lifestyle and are not willing to do so, and (3) feel helpless in addressing changes, even if there is agreement that human behavior is endangering the environment (APA, 2009).
On the other hand, researchers have shown that developing an interconnected worldview through personal and societal encounters with nature leads to global action (Evitts, et al, 2010). For example, participating in therapeutic horticulture may lead naturally to worldwide efforts to plant trees, protect forests and natural habitat, save non-GMO seeds, and support eco-agriculture. Participating in animal-assisted therapy or interacting with pets may lead to the preservation of species and their habitat.
Examples: Psychology: Climate Change and Environment; International Cooperation on Green Care/Nature Healing Rsearch; Love and Care for Nature: Global Happiness Research
Stories
The California Tree Project. In 1970, 15 year-old Andrew Lipkis was told by a camp naturalist that smog was killing Los Angeles trees and could eliminate the forests. Distressed, Andrew began by organizing his fellow campers to plant trees.
In 1973, Andrew persuaded the California State Division of Forestry to save 8,000 seedlings and organized campers, scouts, and other volunteers to pot and plant these seedlings. This was the beginning of the California Tree People project, which went on to help LA plant 1 million trees, and is still active 40 years later.
Tree planting became a worldwide activity, and in 2006 the United Nations Environmental Program launched Plant a Tree for the Planet: Billion Tree Campaign (www.treepeople.org/). The Earth Day Network is also working on planting 3 billion trees.
Practice
Interconnectedness Exercise. Take a piece of paper and pen with you and find some place in nature to sit down. Look around you and find something in nature that attracts your attention. Mark it with a dot on your paper. Do this six more times, finding objects or spots that attract you and representing them with dots. When you have your seven dots, begin to identify connections between and among the items, drawing lines to reflect them. See how many you can discover. Don’t forget to include you as part of the connections! You can also do the exercise using small pebbles for the dots and sticks for the lines connecting them. End the exercise by expressing gratitude for nature’s connections. (Adapted from Keepers of the Earth: Native American Stories and Environmental Activities for Children)
What Do You Do? Research shows that most human beings feel good about themselves when they work on behalf of nature. Make a list of the things you do large or small for the environment. Let yourself appreciate what you are doing. Choose one thing you are doing and imagine the impact if every single person in the world was also doing it.
Research
Psychological Component of Climate Change. An APA Task Force was created to address the multi-faceted phenomenon of (and challenges related to) psychology and climate change. The report, issued in 2009, included its findings, research recommendations and proposed policies for the APA to help psychologists engaged with climate change. Among other questions, the Task Force explored: (1) How do people understand the risks imposed by climate change? (2) What are the human behavioral contributions to climate change and the psychological and contextual drivers of these contributions? (3) What are the psychosocial impacts of climate change? (4) Which psychological barriers limit climate change action?
At the end of its study, the Task Force made many recommendations within the broad framework of encouraging psychologists to become involved in the psychological dimensions of global climate change, assessing the APA’s contribution to global climate change, and creating effective outreach programs to enhance the public’s understanding (APA, 2009).
Developing an Interconnected Worldview. Recognizing that many people are aware of climate change but don’t act on that knowledge, researchers of one study asked, “How could a learning experience be designed to develop an interconnected worldview?” They interviewed various experts and found: (1) the need to include subjective and objective ways of describing and experiencing an interconnected worldview, (2) the importance of integrating systems and ecological thinking, (3) the importance of promoting the learner to identify themselves as part of the Earth system (not just an observer), and (4) the need to expand the learner’s concept of self (Evitts, et al, 2010).
Connection to Environmental Health. Glenn Albrecht’s collaborative research on the relationship between human and ecosystem health in the coal mining regions of Australia and the ethics of feral buffalo control birthed the term solastalgia, which refers to people’s distress over their home environment changing through no control of their own. These changes occur through industrial pollution, governmental policies, and/or climate change. Albrecht is also interested in what creates resilient regions (TEDxTalks, 2010).
Resources
American Psychology Association (APA). (2009). Report of the American Psychological Association Task Force on the Interface between Psychology and Global Climate Change. Retrieved on February 6, 2013 from: http://www.apa.org/science/about/publications/climate-change.aspx.
Caduto, M. J., Bruchac, J. (1988). Keepers of the Earth: Native American Stories and Environmental Activities for Children. Golding, CO; Fulcrum Inc.
Evitts, S., Seale, B., Skybrook, D. (2010). Developing an Interconnected Worldview: A Guiding Process for Learning (Master’s thesis). Retrieved February 6, 2013 from: http://www.bth.se/fou/cuppsats.nsf/all/8a4bcbd37e859a63c12577430067df97/$file/DevelopingInterconnectedWorldview-EvittsSealeSkybrook.pdf.
Jastrab, J. (1996). Coming Home. In Adams, C. (Editor), The Soul Unearthed: Celebrating Wilderness and Personal Renewal Through Nature. New York, New York: Tarcher/PutnamPublishing.
Perkins, H. (2010). Measuring love and care for nature. Journal of Environmental Psychology; 30, 455–463.
Sabini, M., (ed.). (2008). The Earth Has A Soul: C. G Jung on Nature, Technology and Modern Life.Berkeley, CA: North Atlantic Books.
Swim, J., Clayton, S., Doherty, T., Gifford, R., Howard, G., Reser, H., Stern, P., Weber, E. (2009).Psychology and Global Climate Change: Addressing a Multi-Faceted Phenomenon and Set of Challenges. American Psychology Association
Task Force on Interface Between Psychology and Global Climate Change. Retrieved February 6, 2013 from: http://www.apa.org/science/about/publications/climate-change.pdf.
TEDxTalks. (2010, June 1). Glenn Albrecht – Environment Change, Distress & Human Emotion Solastalgia. Retrieved January 28, 2013, from: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-GUGW8rOpLY.
Tree People. http://www.treepeople.org/
United Nations Plant a Tree Program. http://www.plant-for-the-planet.org/en/
Leaves & Branches – Nourishment
Global Nature Healing: Spiritual
Definition
Spiritual Nature Healing on a global level focuses on the spiritual or transcendent qualities evoked in human beings when they interact with nature and the Earth as a whole.
People report sensations such as awe, reverence, timelessness, continuity, contentment, and majesty. Rather than losing connection because of the vastness of a global perspective, some people find comfort in being part of the Earth’s whole system and identify the planet as home.
Humans often feel spiritually connected to their homes; they both feel taken care of in their homes and want to care take of them in turn. Thus at the global level, a natural response is the desire to heal the whole system.
This desire is found in the religions and practices of indigenous people worldwide who speak of preserving the Earth for at least seven generations hence. It is increasingly found in other religious and spiritual organizations, which are banding together to explore points of unity in their stewardship of the Earth and environmental programs. On a secular level, the Earth Charter, which emerged from the United Nation’s 1992 Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, provides an ethical framework for human-Earth interactions (www.earthcharterinaction.org).
Nature awakens transcendent experiences in human beings regardless of cultural or religious background.
Examples: Gaia Hypothesis; C.G. Jung/Earth Has a Soul:
Stewardship of Earth/Interfaith; Environmental Altruism; Earth Charter (Human and Earth Covenant)
Sustainability is a consciousness that happens through education or understanding that helps you know your relationship to the Earth.
Jon Eibdo
Stories
Earth: A Living Entity. Do you believe that the Earth behaves like a living entity? In 1972, James Lovelock, a NASA scientist w
ho investigated the possibility of life on Mars, proposed that the Earth’s biosphere behaved like a living organism in its capacity to self-regulate. He called his theory the Gaia Hypothesis (Lovelock, 2000). While many environmentalists took his theory seriously, most scientists did not. Today the theory remains controversial.
However, indigenous cultures and ancient European cultures would agree that the Earth is alive. Influenced by her indigenous people, Bolivia created the Universal Declaration of the Rights of Mother Earth with legal implications. It took 60 years for the Universal Declaration of Human Rights to become legally binding as part of the International Human Rights law. In contrast, the first court finding for the Rights of Nature in the world was decided March 2011 in Ecuador (http://therightsofnature.org/first-ron-case-ecuador/).
World Parliament of Religions. The 1983 Chicago-based World Parliament of Religions called together representatives of all the world’s major religions. Topics included (1) religion’s responsibility to nature, (2) its role in the coming century, (3) the creation of a global ethic, and (4) how the World Parliament of Religions could cooperate in the coming years. Since that time, many religions offer sustainability programs, teach about stewardship of the Earth, and participate in interfaith events locally. A World Parliament of Religions is held every four years. (http://www.parliamentofreligions.org/).
Practice
Earth Meditation: Using your imagination, place an inner image of the Earth in your heart. Fill your heart with love for the Earth. If you find this difficult, think of a place on the Earth that you love. Put your hand on your heart and say the following invocation:
Let this beautiful planet be filled with loving kindness.
Let this beautiful planet be well and healthy.
Let this Mother Earth be filled with great joy, peace, and understanding.
Let all life be respected.
Let this beautiful planet be filled with good will.
Repeat these words as you would a chant. Or write your own version of this meditation. (Earth Meditation offered by Lorre Eaton)
Oneness and Nature. Have you ever had or heard about someone else who has had an experience of Oneness with all of nature, the entire Earth community? Share this experience or experiences with at least one other person. Has he or she also had a similar experience?
Research
Sacredness and Sustainability. Annalet van Schalkwyk (2011) from the University of South Africa maintains that “the environmental crisis necessitates a world view which recognizes the Sacred in the whole web of life.” Her central question asks, How can we understand and describe an eco-spirituality that creates a sustainable future for following generations and for the planet as a whole?
Forum for Religion and Ecology. Founders Mary Evelyn Tucker and John Grim organized 10 years of religion and ecology forums at Harvard Divinity School. Presently, they share appointments at the Yale School of Forestry and Environment and Yale Divinity School. They organized the Yale Forum for Religion and Ecology, which is the largest international, multi-religious project of its kind. (The Forum on Religion and Ecology at Yale).
Religion and Nature. The most definitive, scholarly work on religion and nature is Bron Taylor’sEncyclopedia of Religion and Nature, 2 Volume Set. The 1825-page work ranges from the Oracle at Delphi to Walt Disney’s use of nature in his productions, ancient religious texts to New Age philosophy, and deep philosophical disagreements on religion’s role in the environment. Here you can find information on outstanding contributors to the religion-nature discussion, as well as indigenous culture and philosophy from around the world (Taylor, 2005).
Resources
Center for Religion and Ecology, Yale University
Council for the Parliament of the World’s Religions http://www.parliamentofreligions.org/
Davis, J. (1998). The transpersonal dimensions of ecopsychology: nature, nonduality, and spiritual practice. The Humanistic Psychologist; 26(1-3), 60-100.
The Earth Charter. http://earthcharter.org
Forum on Religion and Ecology,Yale. http://fore.research.yale.edu/
Garrison Institute. (2012, March 8). Mary Evelyn Tucker: The Emerging Alliance of Religion & Ecology. Retrieved January 29, 2013 from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=15v6f2moleE&feature=player_embedded.
Gips, T. Sustainability and Spiritual Practice. Power Point presentation retrieved 2013 from http://dev.charlsonmeadows.org/cmwp/wp-content/themes/responsive/pdfs/waysTerryGips20MinTa.pdf.
Global Alliance for the Rights of Nature. http://therightsofnature.org/
King, S. (1996). Voices of the Forest. In Adams, C., (ed.), The Soul Unearthed: Celebrating Wildness and Personal Renewal Through Nature. New York: Jeremy P. Tarcher/Putnam Books.
Kung, H. (ed.). (1996). YES to a Global Ethic: Voices from Religion and Politics. New York: Continuum Publishing House.
Lovelock, J. (2000). The Gaia Hypothesis. London: Oxford University Press.
Rudd, M., Vohs, K., Aaker, J. (2005). Awe expands people’s perception of time, alters decision making, and enhances wellbeing. inTaylor, B., (ed.), The Encyclopedia of Religion and Nature; 1 & 2 (Psychological Science). New York: Continuum Publishing Co.
Taylor, B. (Ed). (2005). The Encyclopedia of Religion and Nature. New York: Continuum.
Teasdale, W., Cairns, G., (ed.) (1996). The Community of Religions: Voices and Images of the World’s Parliament of Religions. New York: Continuum Publishing Co.
Van Schalkwyk, A. (2011). Sacredness and sustainability: searching for a practical eco-Spirituality.Religion and Theology; 18, 77-92.
World People’s Conference on Climate Change and the Rights of Mother Earth https://pwccc.wordpress.com/programa/